This old man, he knew perfectly well that barbarian women couldn't marry Central Plains men, yet he offered betrothal gifts and livestock. Wasn't that undermining her?
"Khan!" Si Ya Ke Dun frowned, secretly pinching his thigh. "Let me talk to Marquis Gu!"
Han Chi Er hissed, sweat beading on his forehead from the pain.
Old woman, you're too rough. My thigh must be bruised purple.
"Marquis Gu, Old Marquis Gu!" Si Ya Ke Dun stood up, looking at Gu Mingyan and the elder with a wistful gaze. "You may not know, but I accompanied the Khan to Da Shui Village this time. Not only did we bring Jiao Jiao back, but I also met the young crown prince of Liang Kingdom..."
A subtle cold glint flickered in Gu Mingyan's eyes upon hearing this.
"In the past, we lived on the grasslands and did not interact with Central Plains people, nor did we communicate with the outside world. Therefore, we seemed overly ignorant and decadent. But after meeting the young crown prince this time, I was deeply moved. I discussed it thoroughly with the Khan and we decided to foster generational amity with the Great Liang Kingdom starting today, opening up trade for mutual benefit, and allowing you Central Plains people to taste our grassland mutton..."
Han Chi Yan's beautiful eyes lit up at this. She quickly stood up. "Mother, does this mean the royal court can intermarry with Liang Kingdom?"
Does this mean Abu and Mother have agreed to her marriage with Gu Mingyan?
"No!" Si Ya Ke Dun's eyes widened, and she refused outright.
Han Chi Yan: "..."
Mother, you are too heartless.
Si Ya Ke Dun glanced at Gu Mingyan and said indifferently, "Opening up trade does not mean the two countries can intermarry. We must still abide by the tribal rules..."
As soon as these words were spoken, the old Marquis could no longer sit still. He slammed his wine bowl down with a 'bang'. "No, I say, Madam Ke Dun, your daughter and my son are in love, it's a matter of mutual consent. Why are you interfering?"
He was also an old man, and his thinking was indeed feudal, but Han Chi Yan and Yan Er were in love. No one forced anyone...
Now that Si Ya, this old woman, insisted on causing trouble, the old Marquis felt very stifled.
"What did you say?" Si Ya Ke Dun's brows furrowed, and her eyes narrowed. "Interfering?"
"That's right, what about it?" The old Marquis stood up, hands on his hips, his chin held high.
Alima saw this and sighed, holding her forehead.
Gu Jian Qiang, you're just asking for trouble.
Madam Ke Dun is not as easy to talk to as she is.
"Heh!" Si Ya Ke Dun stared at the old Marquis for a moment, then curled her lips. "There's a saying in the Central Plains: when words don't match, half a sentence is too much. It seems the old Marquis and I are not of the same mind. We have different paths and cannot plan together. You should return to the Central Plains as soon as possible..."
With that, Si Ya Ke Dun ordered the guards, "Go, escort them, father and son, out of the great hall. No, out of Sui City. If they dare to pester Yan Er again, don't blame me for turning ruthless!"
Gu Mingyan, who had been silent: "..."
Father, look at what you've done.
Before coming, you advised me to appease the Khan and Ke Dun properly. Now that your temper has flared up, further discussions are impossible...
"Mother!" Han Chi Yan's face paled with panic. She quickly walked to the center of the hall and knelt on the carpet. "My child and Mingyan truly love each other. If Mother insists on driving him away, then... then I won't live either!"
Si Ya Ke Dun: "..."
What kind of enchanting spell did this Gu Marquis cast on Yan Er to make her so devoted to him?
Han Chi Er pursed his lips. Seeing his daughter crying like a little tearful child, his heart ached. He leaned towards Si Ya Ke Dun and whispered, "Si Ya, look how affectionate they are. Why don't we... why don't we fulfill their wishes..."
Rules are rigid, but people are flexible.
If they cling to those old feudal ideas, how can the barbarians progress?
Si Ya Ke Dun: "???"
This damned old man, at this critical juncture, not only didn't support me but also spewed such nonsense...
"This matter is not up for discussion!" Si Ya Ke Dun's face was as cold as ice, her attitude extremely firm. "What are you waiting for? Kick them out!"
"Yes!"
Seven or eight burly guards rushed into the great hall, surrounding Gu Mingyan and the old Marquis.
"Wh-what are you doing?" The old Marquis clenched his fists. "You want to resort to force?"
In his youth, he had led armies in campaigns south and north, dominating battlefields. What kind of life-and-death situations had he not witnessed?
Although he was now in his sixties, his heart held no trace of fear or timidity.
Gu Mingyan was also very calm, still seated in his original position, leisurely sipping his tea.
If he were to be scared out of his wits now, it would prove he had lost.
"Wuwuwu, Mother, Abu, please don't treat him like this. In the Central Plains, Mingyan treated me very well. If you don't believe me, ask Shuang Er..." Han Chi Yan wept bitterly.
Hu Ge Shuang Er's delicate body trembled. She quickly stepped forward and knelt beside Han Chi Yan, lowering her head. "Princess Yan Er's words are all true!"
"True about what?" Si Ya Ke Dun was furious, pointing at Hu Ge Shuang Er. "I heard you also found a Central Plains man. Do you know what crime that is?"
She really didn't know what charm Central Plains men possessed to bewitch grassland women and make them forget their homeland...
"Your slave... your slave knows!" Hu Ge Shuang Er replied with a trembling voice.
The great hall was filled with a heavy atmosphere of gunpowder. The ministers kept their heads down, silent as cicadas, not daring to even let out a breath...
"Marquis Gu!" Si Ya Ke Dun swept her gaze towards Gu Mingyan, her tone neither warm nor cold. "Before you leave, do you have anything else to say?"
Judging solely by his appearance and demeanor, this Marquis Gu was indeed very good.
But Si Ya Ke Dun could not make an exception for Gu Mingyan and Yan Er in front of the ministers!
If there was one, there would be two. If there were two, there would be three. If the two countries truly intermarried, the rules left by their ancestors would become a blank piece of paper.
Gu Mingyan put down his teacup and slowly stood up. "Madam Ke Dun, you mentioned earlier about the two countries fostering generational amity and opening up trade. Does that still count?"
This matter was the fundamental purpose of his arrival in the northern frontier.
Si Ya Ke Dun grunted. "Of course, it counts!"
Upon hearing this, Gu Mingyan pushed aside the guards in front of him, walked to the center of the hall, and helped Han Chi Yan up. "Don't cry. Trust me!"
The sobbing Han Chi Yan: "???"
At this point, you're still being mysterious...
Gu Mingyan looked at Si Ya Ke Dun, his expression extremely serious. "Madam Ke Dun, if I were to say that Yan Er is now carrying my child, would you still intend to break us apart?"
As soon as these words were spoken, a hushed gasp swept through the hall, and the ministers collectively drew a sharp breath...